Kathmandu (Pahichan) May 19 – To mark the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, United Nations and the British Council organized a two-day workshop for LGBTIQ+ youths on 12 and 14 May. Facilitated by Word Warriors, a British Council grantee, the workshop saw participation of around a dozen youth who identify as LGBTIQ+.

Subsequently, select participants performed their personal work at the 16 May event which included screening of #FiveFilms4Freedom collection and other Nepali LGBTIQ+ films. Eight participants–Aayam Poudel, Dhurba Dio M. Yonjon, Esan Regmi, Sambida, Mamata Shrestha, Mahindre Singh Danuwar, and Badal Lama–performed during the evening. Yukta Bajracharya from Word Warriors, who facilitated the workshop also performed a poem.

Post the event, Dr. Jovan Ilic, the Country Director of the British Council said, “By providing a creative platform for LGBTIQ+ youth, we hope to create safe spaces of expression for socially marginalized communities to enhance their participation in social outcomes.”

Performances and screening event was supported by the Federation of Gender and Sexual Minorities Nepal. The organizers are thankful to the Blue Diamond Society, Mitini Nepal and Inclusive Forum for their invaluable support.

About IDAHOTB

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
The Day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, local authorities, etc. to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.